Analysis of Age and Gender Characteristics Among Patients with Mental Disorders - 5 Residential Mental Health Care (RMHC) Services

5.1 About the Data

Residential mental health care (RMHC) services provide specialised mental health care on an overnight basis in a domestic-like environment. RMHC services may include rehabilitation, treatment or extended care.

The data used for this section came from Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).

5.2 Resident Characteristics

Note: A resident is a person who receives residential care intended to be for a minimum of 1 night.

5.2.1 By Age Group

Figure 5.1: People Accessing RMHC Services by Age Group, 2020-21

5.2.2 By Sex

Figure 5.2: People Accessing RMHC Services by Sex, 2020-21

5.2.3 Summary

Individuals aged 18-24 have the highest rate of accessing RMHC, at approximately 6 per 10,000 population. For those aged 25-54, the rate stabilizes at around 4 per 10,000.
Females have a higher rate, population, and percentage of accessing RMHC.

5.3 RMHC Service Episodes Rate

Episodes of residential care are defined as a period of care between the start of residential care (either through the formal start of the residential stay or the start of a new reference period (that is, 1 July)) and the end of residential care (either through the formal end of residential care, commencement of leave intended to be greater than 7 days, or the end of the reference period (that is, 30 June)). An individual can have one or more episodes of care during the reference period.

5.3.1 General Sex and Age Characteristics

5.3.1.1 By Sex and Age Group

Figure 5.3: Episodes Rate by Age Group and Sex, 2020-21

5.3.1.2 Summary

Females aged 18-24 exhibit an exceptionally high episode rate, exceeding 10 per 10,000 population.
For ages 25-54, the episode rates are generally similar across both genders, though slightly higher for females, with an average of about 5 per 10,000 population.
Young girls aged 12-17 experience exceptionally higher episode rates than boys in the same age group.

5.3.2 Sex and Age Characteristics by States or Territories

5.3.2.1 By Sex and States or Territories

Figure 5.4: Episodes Rate by Sex and States or Territories, 2020-21

Note: Data for ACT is not applicable and should not be interpreted as zero. Some data for NSW is rounded to zero.

5.3.2.2 By Sex, Age Group, States or Territories

Figure 5.5: Episodes Rate by Sex, Age Group, States or Territories, 2020-21

Note: Data for ACT is not applicable and should not be interpreted as zero. Some data for NSW is rounded to zero.

5.3.2.3 Summary

Tasmania has the highest episode rate among all states or territories, while New South Wales registers have the lowest, nearly reaching zero.
Female rates are generally higher across most states or territories, notably among young women aged 18-24 in Victoria and South Australia.
The Northern Territory is an exception where the male rate is about double the female rate, attributed to a low female rate.
Episode rates in Queensland and Western Australia are moderate, with all values less than 10 per 10,000 population.

5.3.3 Episode Rates Changes Over Time

5.3.3.1 Average Annual Episodes Change

Figure 5.6: Average Annual Episodes Change by Sex and Age group, 2016–17 to 2020–21

5.3.3.2 Episodes Changes Over the Year by Age and Sex

Figure 5.7: Change of Episodes Rate by Sex Over Year 2005–06 to 2020–21

Figure 5.8: Change of Episodes Number by Age and Sex Over Year 2005–06 to 2020–21

5.3.4 Summary

From 2005-06 to 2020-21, the female episode rate quadrupled from 0.9 to 3.9, while the male rate doubled.
From 2005 to 2012, the male episode rate was higher than females; between 2012 and 2015, the rates for both genders were the same; from 2015 onwards, the female episode rate surpassed the male rate. This symptom is largely driven by the trend in young women aged 18-24.